Sharp has developed a power conditioner (controller) that makes it possible to use batteries in electric cars as storage batteries for the home. The company says the so-called Intelligent Power Conditioner is one element in their Eco House concept, which consists of solar energy, utility power and storage batteries as the main energy sources.
In experiments, Sharp was able to squeeze 8kW of power out of an EV traction battery pack used in a Mitsubishi i MiEV – enough to “power electrical appliances in an average household.”
Sharp claims that it took 30 minutes to recharge the batteries, with the 4kWh of energy necessary coming from the charge controller in the Intelligent Power Conditioner.